Motorola demonstrates prototype Band 14 LTE device

Motorola Solutions this week demonstrated live streaming video over a Band 14 LTE network to a laptop computer using a prototype of a Band 14 USB module with a commercial chipset and announced the first operational use of Band 14 public-safety spectrum during the company’s user-group meeting in Las Vegas.

Dan Naylor, product portfolio manager of wireless broadband solutions for Motorola’s government and public-safety unit, said the company could not disclose the name of the chipmaker, but said prototypes of the module will be shipped during the “next several units” to the San Francisco Bay Area for use in the Bay Area Regional Interoperable Communications System (BayRICS) Project Cornerstone 700 MHz LTE pilot. A production-quality dongle product is expected to be shipped in the first quarter of 2011.

“[Q1 2011 is when] the sites are ready and devices are ready,” Naylor said. “We’re looking at 10 sites and around 300 devices to go out to BayRICS, so they can have their officers start using it and put their applications on the network.”

Motorola plans to introduce a portfolio of public-safety LTE devices, with rugged in-vehicle models being released during the second half of 2011 and rugged handheld units hitting the market during the first half of 2012, said Kevin Tenbrunsel, Motorola director of private broadband business development.

Tenbrunsel also announced that the first live data session utilizing Motorola’s deployed infrastructure in the Bay Area recently was conducted.

“We are committed to bringing LTE broadband services to the Bay Area,” Alameda County Undersheriff Rich Lucia said in a prepared statement. “This first video session is a major step in making this system a reality to provide broadband for public safety.”